Climate inaction costly

Published: Friday, March 8, 2013 5:30 a.m. CST

To the Editor:

Did you attend the Forward on Climate Rally or another climate event?

If so, say why you went and how it gave you hope for the future.

Do you know how the climate crisis will affect you or your family? Do you live in the path of heavier storms or in a drought-affected state? If so, share your story – editors are interested in your perspective, and readers will connect with it.

Rejection of the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is one of the most important and immediate executive steps that President Obama can take to address the climate crisis.

Keystone XL would carry tar sands, not crude oil. NASA’s leading climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen, said that tar sands development would mean “game over for the climate.”

It’s impossible to fight climate change while simultaneously investing in the dirtiest, most carbon-intensive fossil fuel on the planet. New clean energy sources are critical, but we can’t cancel them out with dirty energy exports.

Even the State Department’s review of this Canadian pipeline admits that it will have harmful climate impacts; the stakes are high, and there is no excuse to approve Big Oil’s pet project.

This pipeline will take the tar sands through America, not to America. It is likely an export pipeline, and will not lower gas prices or create very many permanent jobs. Climate change, however, will destroy jobs.

If we don’t take action soon, we are going to pay, and future generations will blame us for our inaction.